Albuquerque Tribune -  06/11/01

New Mexico Governor Convinced that Innocent People Have Been Executed

Governor Gary Johnson recently said he no longer supports the idea of a two-year cap on the time death-row inmates can appeal their sentences and he wold support a public dialogue on the usefulness on the death penalty.   Johnson, who introduced the idea of limiting death-row appeals in 1997 as part of a broader package of crime-fighting legislation, said he now believes limiting death-row appeals would probably lead to innocent people being executed.  "I am convinced that has been done in the past, and it will happen in the future.  I am convinced that in the future New Mexico will make a mistake," said Johnson.